State Expands Vaccine Access to All Eligible Residents in Phase One, Effective Immediately

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that all residents in phase 1 of the state vaccine-distribution plan are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, effective immediately. Vaccinating the populations in phase 1 now aims to preserve the Commonwealth’s healthcare system, protect many of the most vulnerable residents, and ensure the vaccine is distributed equitably.

Eligible residents can now make appointments to receive the vaccine at more than 150 locations across the state, including first-responder-only sites, the mass-vaccination site at Gillette Stadium, regional vaccination sites, and participating CVS and Walgreens pharmacies. Additional mass-vaccination sites, pharmacy sites, and community clinic sites will open in more locations on a rolling basis.

Residents eligible for vaccine immediately under phase 1 include COVID-facing healthcare workers, long-term-care facility residents and staff, first responders (EMS, fire, and police), congregate-care residents and staff (including corrections and shelters), home-based healthcare workers, and non-COVID-facing healthcare workers.

All residents must demonstrate their eligibility to receive the vaccine. Eligibility can be established by self-attestation. Most pharmacies such as CVS, require individuals to attest to their eligibility as part of the online appointment-scheduling process. All other sites will accept the Commonwealth’s self-attestation form, which can be filled out online. Residents should be prepared to present this form in a hard copy or electronically at their appointment.

All residents should bring one of the following forms of identification to the appointment: an employer-issued ID card that includes name and title, a government-issued identification or license, or a recent pay stub.